There’s a reason why you feel overwhelmed.

It’s not because you’re lazy. It’s not because you’re not working hard.

It’s because you’re working on too many things at once—and most of them aren’t moving the needle.

I recently listened to Alex Hormozi talk about the difference between signal and noise—and it hit me right between the eyes. In fact, I believe this is one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make if you want your agency to grow.

Let’s dig into it.

The Real Reason You Feel So Busy (But Still Stuck)

Alex compared it to starting four parties on the same Friday night. You invite your friends to all four. Guess what happens?

None of them take off.

But if you focused all your energy, all your invitations, all your music and snacks into one party—you’d probably have something worth remembering.

That’s how most agency owners operate. They start:

• A new lead gen strategy
  
• A Google review push
  
• A hiring process
  
• A new niche vertical
  
• A CRM they only halfway set up

And then wonder why growth feels slow.

You’re not failing. You’re just diluted.

Strategy Isn’t More Ideas—It’s Ruthless Elimination

Hormozi defines strategy as:

“The prioritization of limited resources against unlimited options.”

Sound familiar? That’s exactly what insurance agency owners deal with every day.

You’ve got limited:

• Time
  
• Budget
  
• People
  
• Energy

But unlimited options for how to spend them. So what do most of us do? Try to squeeze in as much as possible.

But here’s the hard truth:

If you have more than one “priority,” you don’t have any.

The word priority didn’t even have a plural form until the 20th century. Originally, it meant the one thing that comes before all else.

So let me ask: What’s your one thing right now?

What’s the one move that—if completed with excellence—would create a ripple effect of growth across your agency?

Whatever that is, everything else needs to wait.

The Hidden Cost of Constant Change

Here’s something else Alex said that agency owners need to hear:

“Every time you change something in your business, expect a 20% drop in performance—just from the cost of change.”

That’s before you even see if the change worked.

Think about that.

You might be risking a guaranteed loss just to chase a potential gain—which may never come.

That’s why we’ve got to stop treating new marketing tactics, new processes, or new software tools as silver bullets. They’re not. Especially when they distract you from the actual constraint that’s holding you back.

Before you launch anything new, ask:

• Is this worth a 20% dip?
  
• Am I solving a real bottleneck?
  
• Or am I just avoiding the hard work of focus?

Signal vs. Noise in Your Insurance Agency

Hormozi breaks it down simply: Signal is what actually creates outcomes. Noise is everything else.

So what does signal look like in your agency?

• Having clear, consistent follow-up with every quote
  
• Asking happy clients for reviews (and making it easy)
  
• Picking a niche and doubling down
  
• Training your team to deliver a world-class customer experience
  
• Calling your best referral partners consistently

Everything else is noise. Even if it’s shiny. Even if it’s fun.

And here’s the part I loved most from the video:

“The people who move the fastest in life aren’t faster. They just get more out of every move.”

Let that sink in.

What if instead of trying to do 10 things, you just did one thing really well—and then watched it multiply?

How to Apply This Today

Let me give you 4 simple action steps you can take right now:

1. Choose One Focus

Write down everything you want to do. Circle the one that—if fully executed—would make the biggest difference. That’s your signal. Everything else is noise.

2. Say “No” to Something

This week, cancel or pause one thing. A campaign, a tool, a to-do item. Clear the decks so you can focus.

3. Train Your Team on This

Share this idea with your team. Get everyone aligned on the one thing that matters this quarter.

4. Set a Finish Line

Put a deadline on your “one thing.” Work like the future of your agency depends on it—because in a way, it does.

Encouragement for the Journey

I’ll leave you with this reminder from Scripture:

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” – Proverbs 4:25

In a world full of distractions, clarity is a gift.

You don’t need more ideas. You need more focus. You need to get better at ignoring what doesn’t matter.

If you do, your agency won’t just grow—it’ll compound.

Let’s be honest: there will always be noise.

But when you get dialed into your signal, the results will speak for themselves.

The Power of One Extra Degree in Your Insurance Agency

Today’s inspiration comes from a devotional by David Villa (Davidvilla.com). I’ve adapted it for our world as insurance agency owners and leaders.

At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils—and that one extra degree produces steam powerful enough to move a locomotive. In business, it’s often that one extra degree of effort that makes all the difference.

For independent insurance agencies, this principle is huge. The extra degree isn’t about working 24/7 or burning yourself out—it’s about small, intentional improvements that separate a good agency from a great one.

Where Agencies Can Add One Extra Degree

• Client Follow-Up – Don’t stop after one voicemail or one email. The extra degree is the second or third touch that shows clients you care and helps you win the account.
  
• Retention Strategies – Most agencies send renewal notices. The extra degree is a personal phone call, a thank-you gift, or a quick “insurance checkup” conversation that strengthens the relationship.
  
• Cross-Selling – At 211 degrees, you quote the client’s home insurance. At 212, you also ask about their auto, umbrella, or life coverage—and suddenly, you’ve added more revenue and deeper loyalty.
  
• Team Development – Training your staff on systems is standard. The extra degree is investing in leadership development, sales coaching, or tools that make them more efficient and fulfilled.
  
• Marketing Consistency – Posting once in a while on social media keeps you warm. Posting consistently, sending email newsletters, and optimizing your website turns up the heat—and drives inbound leads.

Practical Steps to Apply the 212 Principle

1. Set Clear, Measurable Goals – Define where you want your agency to go, then identify one extra degree of action in each area (sales, service, marketing).
   
2. Commit to Daily Consistency – Small actions—daily follow-ups, weekly team meetings, monthly marketing pushes—compound into breakthroughs.
   
3. Embrace a Growth Mindset – See challenges not as setbacks, but as opportunities to stretch. One degree of learning today is exponential growth tomorrow.
   
4. Welcome Feedback – Ask your team and clients how you can improve. Honest feedback is the thermometer that tells you where you stand.
   
5. Stay Resilient – Often, success is just one more call, one more attempt, or one more degree away.

Final Encouragement

At Jenesis Software, we see this truth every day. Agencies that lean in just a little more—making the extra call, sending the extra email, showing the extra care—are the ones that grow and thrive.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is often just one extra degree.

Question for you: Where can you add one more degree this week in your agency?

 

Running an independent insurance agency isn’t just about policies and premiums—it’s about people. Relationships are the currency that drives your business forward. That’s why I want to share a few lessons from the book The Go-Giver Influencer by Bob Burg and John David Mann. It’s a short story with a big message: true influence isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about giving more generously.

Influence Is Earned, Not Demanded

In our industry, people can spot sales pressure a mile away. But they lean in when they feel heard, respected, and understood. As The Go-Giver Influencer reminds us, real influence comes from listening first, seeking to understand, and building trust before asking for anything in return.

At Jenesis Software, we’ve seen agencies grow faster when they focus on conversations, not transactions. When you slow down enough to listen—whether to a customer, a team member, or a carrier partner—you create influence that lasts.

Collaboration Over Competition

The book’s characters discover that winning doesn’t mean someone else has to lose. In the insurance world, that means working with referral partners, local businesses, and even other agencies instead of guarding your corner of the market. When your agency embraces collaboration, opportunities multiply.

This is exactly why we built tools like JenesisNow and JenesisReach—to help you collaborate more effectively, nurture your customers, and expand your influence without adding more hours to your day.

Kindness Is Strength

Sometimes agency owners feel like they have to “harden up” to succeed in a competitive market. But the truth is, kindness is a strength. Your clients don’t just want coverage; they want someone who genuinely cares. The Go-Giver Influencer shows us that compassion, patience, and humility carry more weight than authority or pressure ever will.

When your agency operates with kindness at its core, you not only attract loyal clients—you keep them.

Encouragement for the Journey

As Proverbs 11:25 reminds us: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Influence flows naturally when you live generously.

If you feel overwhelmed by the noise of competition or the pressure to sell harder, remember: your greatest influence lies in serving better. Lead with kindness, listen deeply, and give more than you take. That’s the kind of influence that grows agencies and builds legacies.